Services and Facilities

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting and manipulating needles into various points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. The word acupuncture comes from the Latin acus, "needle", and pungere, "to prick". According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture points are situated on meridians along which qi (a "life energy"), flows.

Acupuncture is a system of healing which has been practiced by the Chinese and other Eastern cultures for thousands of years and may be used to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Conditions that respond well to acupuncture include: ArthritisSpinal PainMuscle & Ligament Sprains & StrainsUrinary & faecal IncontinanceStress Related Disorders

If you feel your pet would benefit from Accupuncture then please make an appointment with Tammy Gillian or discuss this with one of our Vets who can arrange an internal referral to Tammy if necessary.

ADOLESCENT HEALTH CHECK

When your puppy or kitten reaches 6 months old, you will be invited to come in to the surgery for an adolescent health check. This includes a complimentary health check and examination with the Vet and an opportunity to discuss various topics such as Neutering, Worming, Flea prevention, Nutrition etc.

ADVICE

At Grove Veterinary Centre and High Peak Veterinary Practice, our experienced team are happy to offer advice on most subjects. please telephone reception: New Mills: 01663 745294 or Buxton: 01298 74252.

ANAESTHETICS

Anaesthesia works by causing unconsciousness, relaxing muscles and blocking pain. Injectable anaesthetics travel directly through the bloodstream to the brain to cause unconsciousness. Inhalation anaesthetics are gasses that are inhaled in to the lungs and absorbed in to the bloodstream, then travel to the brain to cause or continue unconsciousness. Our qualified staff are trained to closely monitor your pet throughout his anaesthetic and recovery. We have a multi-parameter monitor to assist us with the care of your pet throughout his anaesthetic. This monitors the heart rate and rhythm, pulse rate, breathing rate, oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels, blood pressure, body temperature etc. This information is then put on to a chart by the anaesthetist who will look for any changes along with closely checking and monitoring your pet themselves. They can adjust the level of anaesthetic and have precise control throughout the procedure so your pet receives the correct and safe amount of anaesthetic.At Grove veterinary group we use the most modern anaesthetic agents available. Both ‘Propofol’ (the injectable induction agent) and ‘Sevoflurane’ (the gaseous agent) are fast acting and rapidly cleared from the body which leads to a fast and smooth recovery. This means your pet will be bright, alert and steady on his feet when he goes home later that day.The nurse or vet will ask you to sign a consent form when you leave your pet for an operation or procedure. This is consent for your pet to have an anaesthetic or sedative and for the procedure written on the form. There will also be an estimate of the cost of the procedure on the form. If you have any concerns regarding your pet having an anaesthetic or operation, please don’t hesitate to ask questions as the staff are happy to discuss any concerns you may have.You will be given written instructions on how to care for your pet when you take him home. The nurse or vet will go through all instructions with you. Please ask questions as we want to be sure you to understand what the procedures are and what to expect before and after surgery.

BEHAVIOUR ADVICE

If you wish to discuss any general behaviour problems please telephone reception. They will either pass you on to a nurse for telephone advice or make an appointment with the nurse or vet to discuss in more detail.If we cannot help you then we will recommend and arrange a referral to a pet behaviourist.

CARDIOLOGY

Throughout your pet’s life we will do regular heart checks, usually at the time of their booster vaccination or pre anaesthetic check.If the vet discovers a heart murmur or any abnormality then they will recommend a referral to our visiting cardiologist vet, Vicky Ironside, who will investigate your pet’s heart condition further.

CHEMOTHERAPY

Unfortunately, pets too can suffer from cancer. If you notice any unusual lumps or any abnormality on your pet please make an appointment to bring him to see the vet as soon as possible. Please don’t leave it and worry. A lot of lumps are benign (non-cancerous) and are nothing to worry about. Malignant (cancerous) lumps are much easier to treat if they are dealt with as soon as they are found. Your vet will probably suggest taking a fine needle biopsy initially. This involves taking a small sample of the lump (some cells) via a hypodermic needle (like the needle used to give injections). This is not painful for your pet and can usually be done without an anaesthetic whilst you wait. The sample is then sent to an external laboratory to be examined. The vet will receive a report back from the laboratory and will phone you to discuss the results. If your pet has a malignancy they may refer you to Tammy Gillian who has a special interest in oncology and subsequent chemotherapy. (Not all cases are suitable for chemotherapy)Tammy will go through all the options with you and what to expect if you choose to have chemotherapy for your pet. The decision to go ahead with chemotherapy is yours.

DENTAL ADVICE

80% of dogs and 70% of cats, by the age of 3, suffer from oral problems

Plaque is not visible until it hardens to form tartar. Plaque continually builds up on your pet’s teeth. Bacteria grows in the plaque causing gums to become red, inflamed and sore (gingivitis). Further build up of plaque allows bacteria to infect below the gum line, leading to periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease (inflammation of the tissues supporting the teeth) is very common in pets with poor dental hygiene. Periodontal disease causes pain, tooth loss and can possible cause serious illness. Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream through infected gums which may cause systemic disease.

Dental surgery under general anaesthetic is essential to treat periodontal disease. All these problems and most dental surgery are easily avoided with proper routine oral care.

PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR PET TO SEE ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED NURSES FOR A FREE DENTAL CHECK-UP AND ADVICE ON ORAL CARE.

E.C.G.

An E.C.G (electrocardiogram) is a machine which measures the electrical activity of the heart.Electrical impulses cause the heart to beat, the E.C.G test measures these electrical impulses, converts them to a graph which the Vet can analise to see if the heart is beating correctly. We use the E.C.G to help diagnose and to monitor heart disease.

ENDOSCOPY

An endoscope is a large, thin flexible tube which contains a fibre optic light source and camera.Endoscopy is a non-invasive, safe procedure which alows us to examine your pet's upper airways and digestive system under anaesthetic but without need for surgery.We are also able to take a biopsy (sample of tissue) using the endoscope or romove some foreign bodies that your pet has accidentally swallowed.

FLEA PREVENTION

Fleas can cause your pet problems such as: intense scratching & itching resulting in hair loss, they are part of the tapeworm cycle so can infest your pet with tapeworms, anaemia and flea allergy dermatitis. Fleas can bite your family too causing itching and irritation.Each female flea can lay approximately 200 eggs in her very short lifetime. The eggs fall off your pet and in to your home. These eggs develop in to larvae and then pupae before hatching in to adult fleas. The newly hatched adults are hungry so jump on to your pet or you for a blood meal. This life cycle means that for every flea seen on your pet there are hundreds of eggs, larvae and pupae in your carpets and furniture. Only 5% of the flea infestation is on our pet, the other 95% is in your home.By regular flea treatment you can prevent this infestation from starting. There are many flea preparations available, some more effective than others.The main products we recommend are:PROGRAM/PROGRAM PLUS: Program works by preventing the eggs laid by adult fleas from developing and hatching. This breaks the life cycle so prevents an infestation from forming in your home. Program is a very safe product as it does not contain an insecticidal. Program does not kill adult fleas so any infestations would have to be dealt with before starting with program. It is very important to continue with Program without a gap. Also you need to treat ALL dogs & cats in the house not just one.DOGS: Program Plus is administered in tablet form for dogs. You give one dose every month in with his meal. Program plus also protects your dog and family from the effects of some worms. CATS: This can be either administered in liquid form on the food monthly or by an injection at the vets every 6 months. (We will send you a reminder to come in every 6 months)Or Visit: www.fleafree.co.uk to register for a free reminder by text or email.FRONTLINE: Frontline is a spot on preparation for the treatment of fleas, ticks and lice. Frontline can also be used as prevention for flea infestations. Frontline kills the adult flea and breaks the life cycle.Frontline is administered by applying a liquid spot-on to the skin at the back of the neck. It can also be applied via a spray.For flea prevention Frontline should be applied every 5 weeks in cats and 2 months in dogs, and for ticks, every month. We recommend using a household spray to kill any adult fleas, eggs, larvae and pupae around the house.FRONTLINE COMBO: This acts in the same way as Frontline but also contains an insect growth regulator. This prevents the development of the eggs, larvae and pupae that cause the infestations in your home.STRONGHOLD: This is a spot-on for treatment of fleas and some worms. It kills the adult fleas, eggs and larvae. It also treats ear mites, roundworm, biting lice and prevention of heartworm,INDOREX: This is a household spray which instantly kills adult fleas for up to 2 months and stops any other flea stages from developing for a full year. Indorex also controls house dust mites for up to 12 months. Many dogs can suffer from skin allergies caused by house dust mites.After using Indorex it is recommended to vacuum daily for a week as the vibrations encourage the flea pupae to hatch out, then coming into contact with the Indorex treated surfaces and die very quickly.

HOME VISITS

At Grove Veterinary Group we are always happy to provide house visits to your pet if necessary. We appreciate your pet may find a visit to the veterinary practice stressful but would like to advise that we do not routinely recommend a house visit as we would only have access to limited equipment and facilities available.We feel it is not in your pet's best interest to be examined and treated at home. If you would like advice on transporting your pet to the surgery please phone reception where our staff would be happy to help.

We understand when the time comes for your pet to be 'put to sleep' you may prefer this to be done in your own home where your pet feels more comfortable and less distressing for you. We will do our best to arrange this for you. Please give as much notice as possible when arranging a home visit so we can plan our day. Please also note, home visits are time consuming for both the Veterinary Surgeon and Nurse so unfortunately it is reflected in the cost. Please ask for an estimate before arranging a visit.

INSURANCE

If your pet gets ill, the last thing you want to worry about is the vet’s bill. Insurance is now available for dogs, cats and rabbits.if the worst happens and your becomes ill or injured, insurance means your vet can dedicate their efforts into doing all that is necessary to diagnose and treat any illness, rather than worrying about doing certain tests or treatments because of the cost. PLEASE SEE THE PETPLAN PAGE

LABORATORY TESTS

The vet may recommend tests to help with the diagnosis of your pet’s condition. We have the facilities to run basic laboratory tests in house i.e. blood biochemistry, electrolye and haematology analysis, skin sellotape examination for parasites and urine examination. However, we usually send the samples to an external laboratory for a more detailed analysis. The samples are collected daily by courier and delivered overnight to the laboratory. The tests are preformed that day and the results emailed to the practice. On most samples we have the results by the following day. The vet will phone you to discuss the results.

MICROCHIPPING

A microchip is an electromagnetic coil in a capsule the size of a grain of rice. It is injected under the skin between your pet's shoulder blades. Once inserted into your pet, it provides an inexpensive but permanent means of identification throughout the life of your pet. The microchip has it's own unique identification number.

If your missing pet is found then the Vet, Police or dog warden can scan the microchip to access the unique identification number. They then telephone the database to discover the identity of the pet and its owner. DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR DETAILS WITH THE DATABASE IF YOU MOVE HOUSE, CHANGE YOUR PHONE NUMBER OR RE HOME YOUR PET!

NURSE CLINICS

The experienced nursing team at Grove Veterinary Centrel and High Peak Veterinary Practice run nurse clinics along side the Veterinary Surgeon's appointments.The Vet may refer you to a nurse to discuss various subjects:Post operative careWeight adviceNutritional & Dietary adviceDental checks and Oral careFlea Checks and preventionWorming Advice New pet AdviceGrooming adviceRabbit clinics and advice

This is by no means a full list of the Nurses Clinics and appiontments. Please make an appiontment with one of our excellent nurses for advice or any of the above procedures.

MRI and CT SCANS

We have access to nearby MRI and CT imaging facilities as required.

CT SCAN - CT stands for computerized tomography (previously known as the CAT scan (computerized axial tomography)).This is essentially a series of x-rays taken in 'slices' as the machine rotates around the patient's body. The data is relayed to a computer which turns the information into 2-dimensional cross-sectional images, which can be used to create 3-dimensional models.Generally, complete scans take only a few minutes with the patient under general anaesthesia. After plain scans are taken, a contrast agent is administered intravenously to help highlight inflammatory and cancer cells.CT scans are superior for assessing lung tissue, and performing full body scans quickly & easily. It is a procedure used to identify masses and tumours, including cancer, and can be a valuable tool when planning and making decisions about associated surgical procedures

MRI SCAN - MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves instead of x-rays to create the 'slices' and resulting images. Only one part of the body can be scanned at a time, eg brain, neck, abdomen, joints etc., and each region takes about 20 minutes with the patient under general anaesthesia. Intravenous contrast medium is also used to highlight inflammatory and cancer tissue. MRI is superior for fine detail and is used to study the brain, nerves, muscles, ligaments, bones and other tissues. It is often used to evaluate injuries to ligaments and tendons, spinal problems, as well as identifying masses and tumours within the abdomen and soft tissues.

NEUTERING

Cats

Male cats can be neutered from 6 months old. It is better to neuter your Tom cat at an early age as it will stop him wandering off looking for females, he will be less likely to fight over his territory, less likely to contract diseases or infections from fighting and will prevent the overwhelming 'Tom cat' smell from urine territory marking.

Female cats should also be neutered from 6 months old to prevent unwanted pregnancies and kittens. Un-nutered females are very vocal and noisy. You would also have un-neutered Tom cats hanging around your house.

Both FELV (feline leukaemia virus) and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) are transmitted by mating. Although there is a vaccination for prevention of FELV, there is no vaccine to protect your cat from FIV.

Dogs

Male dogs can be neutered from 6 months old. By neutering your dog at an early age you can prevent aggression and some behavoiural problems, it will stop him escaping or wandering off looking for females 'in season', it will reduce or eliminate the risk of testicular/prosate cancer.If your dog is 'cryptorchid' (has only one testicle visible as the other one has not dropped down in to his scrotum) then he is at high risk of developing testicular cancer and needs to be neutered.

Bitches should be neutered before their first season, usually 6 months old. By neutering your bitch at an early age you can prevent unwanted pregnancies and puppies, Mammary, Ovarian, Uterine and Vaginal cancer, a Pyometra (a life threatening infection of her uterus), Vaginal prolapse, male dogs hanging around your house or following you on walks or your bitch may try to escape to get mated.We now routinely perform Ovariectomies, where we remove just the ovaries and not the uterus. Please ask the vet for further details and if appropriate for your bitch.

Rabbits

Routine neutering of both male and female rabbits is strongly recommended unless you wish to breed. Rabbits become sexually mature between 4 months (in smaller breeds) and 6-9 months (in larger breeds). It is recommended that young rabbits be separated into single sex groups at 16 weeks of age. Breeding is prevented by castration of male rabbits at about 5-6 months of age (once the testicles have descended), or spaying of female rabbits at about 6 months of age. Having your female rabbit spayed at between 6 months and 2 years old dramatically decreases the chance of her developing uterine tumours later on in life. In some breeds the incidence of this cancer is over 80% in does over 5 years. Intact males are more prone to developing behavioural problems including fighting, biting and urine spraying. The urine may also become strong smelling. Neutered rabbits are more prone to obesity as they grow older, so care must be taken not to allow overeating.

Neutering of all pets can cause weight gain and obesity. This can be prevented by feeding a lower energy diet and an appropriate exercise regime. The nursing team can advise on this.

NEW PET ADVICE

If you decide to take on a new pet we offer advice on which pet or breed maybe the best choice for you. Please ask one of the nurses. They can advise on what to look out for in specific breeds or which is the best pet for children. We can also offer advice on the cost of a new pet and the amount of exercise etc a pet may need. We also offer advice on how to prepare for your new arrival!Once you have chosen your new pet, let him settle in for 24 hours before bringing him in for a complimentary new pet check with the vet. If you have chosen a pedigree or a pet from a sanctuary, please bring in any information given by the breeder/carer. The vet will give your new pet a clinical examination and health check. They will also discuss vaccinations, worming, flea prevention, feeding etc.When you collect your pet please ask the breeder/carer as much information as possible i.e. food type & amounts, last wormed, flea treatment, vaccinations etc as the vet will ask you this when you come in. Also, we recommend you keep everything the same (food/routine) for the first few days as your pet may find it quite stressful coming to a new home especially if it is a new routine too.

NUTRITIONAL ADVICE

For all nutritional advice please telephone either 01663 745294 or 01298 74252 to make an appointment with one of our qualified nurses. Our nurses will taylor the advice to your individual pet's requirements.

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Colin Bruce is our experienced and dedicated ophthalmologist who is able to offer a referral service to the clients of Grove Veterinary Centre and High Peak Veterinary Practice.

PET PASSPORTS

Our vets are able to issue pet passports and export certificates for travelling abroard with your pets.If you are considering taking your pet abroad on the pet passport scheme then please plan in advance.

You need to have your pet health checked, microchipped and a vaccination against Rabies before leaving the country.

For full details please contact DEFRA: www.defra.gov.uk (click on the link below)

Don’t forget: There are different parasites and diseases in different countries. Please ask the vet for further advice and prevention.

PUPPY SOCIALISATION CLASSES - Puppy Parties!

A lot of behaviour problems can start at an early age so it is very important to socialise your puppy with other dogs, people and unusual places from as early as possible. You are limited as to where you can take your new puppy until they have received their full vaccination course but there is plenty you can do around the home. Please speak to a nurse for further information and advice.Always make the socialisation sessions pleasant, fun and enjoyable!We recommend you attend the puppy socialisation classes run at Grove Veterinary Centre where your puppy gets to mix with similar puppies at an early age. The experienced qualified nurse who runs the puppy parties will discuss general training and behaviour of puppies (i.e. biting, chewing & house training etc). It is a strange environment, with different people and new smells to investigate!Your puppy will associate coming to the vets as a fun and good experience which can prevent future stress for the puppy, you and the vet! The puppy parties are great fun and you will receive a certificate at the end of the course!

RABBIT CLINICS

Our team of experienced nurses offer complimentary health checks for your Rabbit. The nurses will also discuss and offer advice on various topics i.e. diet & weight, vaccinations and insurance.Please telephone the surgery for an appointment.

RADIOGRAPHY

Radiographs or X-rays can be a crucial aid to diagnosing your pet's illness.We have a digital Radiography suite at Grove Veterinary Centre where our Veterinary Surgeons and Nurses can produce X-rays as part of the work up to obtain a diagnosis and treatment regime for your pet's illness or injury.The Vet will show you the X-rays and explain any findings during a consultation.

ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION

Ultrasound examination can also be crucial in to diagnosing your pet's illness.We may scan your pet if she is pregnant, if your pet has a heart murmur or heart disease we would advise a scan so the Vet can examine how the heart is working and the movement of blood within the heart. We can also scan abdomens to check for disease or injury.Scanning is usually carried out by Vicky Ironside, our visiting cardiologist.

RABBITS - Your rabbit should be vaccinated routinely against Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) and Myxomatosis.Both these viral diseases can be rapidly fatal in an unvaccinated rabbit and there are no cures once infected. The only protection you can give your rabbit is by vaccination. VHD is spread by direct contact between rabbits (both wild and domesticated) but also via indirect contact such as from people, clothing, on shoes, other objects and fleas. Myxomatosis is spread mainly by fleas or other biting insects and is transmitted in this way from wild to pet rabbits.

When Should You Vaccinate Your Pet?

PUPPIES can be vaccinated from 8 weeks of age. They require a course of two injections with an interval of 2-4 weeks between each.

KITTENS can be vaccinated from 9 weeks of age. They also require a course of two injections with an interval of 3-4 weeks between each. Your pet will not be fully protected until one week after the 2nd injection so must be kept inside for this week.

BOOSTER vaccinations are required every year. We send out booster reminders each year to let you know when your pet is due.

RABBITS - Myxomatosis vaccination can be given as early as 6 weeks old and VHD vaccination from 8 weeks onwards, but is usually given at 10-12 weeks. Unfortunately both vaccinations cannot be given at the same time. A minimum 14 day interval is recommended between the two injections. Boosters are given every 6-12 months for myxomatosis depending on the incidence of the disease in the local area. Boosters are given annually for VHD

WORMING ADVICE

There are more than a dozen different types of worms that can affect your dog or cat. Roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm, lungworm and whipworms etc.

Your pet can get worms from a number of different ways: Mother’s milk – Puppies and kittens can by infected by roundworms via their mother’s milk. Dormant larvae become active once the mother starts producing milk, and are transmitted to the puppies/kittens when they suckle.

Contaminated soil – Worm eggs and larvae are passed in the faeces of infected animals, and some can survive in the soil for a year or more.

From fleas – Fleas can be infected with tapeworm larvae, and pets can easily swallow fleas when grooming themselves.

From hunting/scavenging – Pets can become infected from eating infected mice, birds and other animals. Lungworm is carried and spread by slugs, snails and frogs. Don’t leave your dog’s bowls, treats and toys outside.

We recommend you worm your pet regularly. Puppies and kittens should be wormed every 3-4 weeks until 6 months old. Adult dogs - every 3 months throughout their life. Adult cats – every 6-8 weeks in the summer and every 3 months in the winter depending on their hunting activity.

There are many worming products available, some more effective than others. At booster time, or when you get a new pet, the vet will ask you about worming your pet. We recommend using MILBEMAX or DRONTAL plus tablets, PANACUR liquid or PREVENDER spot-on for cats that are difficult to pill. Please ask the nurse or vet for advice on worms.